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[IC] Altera: Of Departures and Deliverance Page 3

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Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by ERode
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First light came too early for the five who found themselves discarded unto this foreign land, and the hard pews meant aching bodies when the clanging of the pots roused them from their slumber. Matt and Aoi woke up with aching, empty stomachs, while Ash felt rather greasy and gross after pigging out on pig meat last night. Muu and Hannah, rolling out of their respective pews, felt similarly gross, but their stomachs were still pleasantly sated, and what they lacked in sleep, they made up in food-energy.

The stained glass windows in the large church gave off a slight kaleidoscopic glow over everything, as everyone’s bleary eyes were naturally drawn towards the bright-faced nun who slammed a ladle against a blackened pot. Though angelic in countenance, her actions were anything but, and after a few more loud rings, everyone, regardless of hangovers or not, were up and ready to get their free breakfast of almost-flavorless soup.

It was when they lined up for something to fill their stomachs and quench their thirst that, amazingly enough, Hannah, Muu, Matteo, Ash, and Aoi encountered each other once more, surrounded by still-drunk hobos.

The day had begun. They may as well start with a hearty ‘good morning’.
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Hidden 6 yrs ago → 6 yrs ago Post by Buzzkill
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Morning had broken, and Matteo’s glasses remained, sadly, in the same condition they’d been in the night before. The fact that they had not been healed as magically as his bloodied face was just one more shadow hanging over him as the occupants of the pews rose early and dished their bowls full of watery breakfast broth. Could have used some coffee, the ex-spectacled young man thought blearily as he found his way back to the others and took his first sip of the hot liquid. It did little to soothe his aching belly, and less to liven his beleaguered mind.

They’d only just traded “good mornings” and he’d been trying to remember all the information he’d gathered from Etono (before he’d been beat up by Old Bear like a nerdy kid in high school-- his lunch money was at least thankfully intact) when a small, dark-haired girl approached them and introduced herself. To Matteo’s surprise, a (slightly) familiar blonde blur was behind her. So she ended up here too-- that’s good, I didn’t see her come in last night. He didn’t think he’d gotten her name outside the recruitment office. In any case, this Muu must be in the same boat as the rest of us-- maybe even newer. Etono had said new arrivals only came at night, however.

He rubbed the back of his neck, aware of how stiff his muscles were after last night. “Once we’re done eating, should we stop by the Silver Moon office and get your tags and starting loan? The man-- I was told his name is Mathers-- might be in a better mood,” Matteo inquired mildly once the clatter of his spoon on the sides of the bowl had ceased. The youth nodded at Muu. “We don’t know much more than you, I’m afraid, but I did get a little useful information last night before… well. I can explain some of it on the way. Ash, Aoi, do you know how to get back to the plaza from last night?” Being unconscious at the time (and assuming the two girls had physically dragged him to the church) he hoped it wouldn’t be too far away.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by OwO
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Ash had awoken feeling sick to her core. That much pork was a bad idea. However, she stomached through it. It was a familiar feeling. One that, though she didn't remember, she knew well. Everyone had rose to the sound of pots clanging, and Ash was no exception. Thankfully, her coinage was still in her grasp. After all, who would steal under the watchful eye of god in the middle of a church?

She had some of the breakfast soup. It did little to soothe her gut and wasn't extremely sustaining, but it was something to vomit out if she felt too bad. Though, she was extremely careful not to allow her breakfast to see the church once more, especially before their processions. With greetings to the others (and an especially snide remark to the new girl), Ash was ready to leave the church. Though, Matteo assumed a leader's position and began to share ideas. To go back to the office to get the new girl her "gift". Though the way back was, obviously for Matteo, a mystery.

"Somewhere south," Ash said, her tone less formal than before, "it took maybe an hour carrying you here. Should probably be less." Ash had paused, thinking what to say next. "I didn't get much information last night. Only thing I learned is that each silver coin is about a hundred copper coins. A meal's about three to ten copper."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by changejar
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Hannah awoke to find that her current life was not just a dream, but a very weird reality in which she knew nothing. She had literally just woken up and was already tired. But the thought of spending any more time sleeping on a pew made her whole body creak, so it was probably best to get up.

The offered soup was sub-par at best compared to the feast she had the night before and she didn’t really eat any of it. Her stomach was still relatively full so she just twirled her spoon around in it until she noticed Muu start to move towards the group.

Hannah did the polite thing and pointed out that the others were in the same forgetful state and then decided that she had contributed enough. If someone wanted more out of her, they would have to directly ask her. Honestly, though, Hannah still probably wouldn’t have answered.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Skyswimsky
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Just like the others, Muu was uncomfortably woken up by the sound of metal hitting metal. With a slight groan, the brunette slowly lifted herself up. While the time the day started didn't seem all too unusual, the fact she slept on a piece of wood and certainly went to bed way too late made her feel just as terrible as the others. At the very least, Muu could still stick close to the nameless girl from the night before.

The food, a tasteless soup, didn't really help much to improve that although, in the end, the girl tried to keep a weak smile. In fact, the brunette even managed to meet the others and exchange a few pleasant words. "I-It's nice to meet you too! Matteo."

At least until she got kind-of teased by Ash about her name. "Ah! I... urm..." It didn't take long for her to hide behind Hannah, feeling already more safe to continue. "Muu just sounds weird." Her voice turned into a whisper."But it's what I... remember?" With that, she fell silent again, willingly to silently follow the group wherever they decided to go.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by ERode
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The consensus was ‘somewhere south’ and the objective was ‘visit the Silver Moon Recruiting Office’. With those things in mind, the motley crew of amnesiac kids set off after polishing off the thin soup, descending down the many flights of stairs that they had climbed the night before. Though the ascent had been torture on their thighs and calves, the descent now caused their knees to throb and ache, only Muu unaffected by the long journey. But there were no accidents outside of Matteo stumbling occasionally, and soon, they found themselves amongst regular, homely buildings of wood and brick once more, the tang of saltwater stinging their noses. Though much of the district had been silent during the night, morning rituals were now at hand, people firing up their ovens or carting out their preserves or marching off to trades or adventures. And despite how vague Ash’s instructions were, the central plaza where the Recruiting Office had been was easy enough to find, just by going down the slope onto what felt like the ‘main road’.

Reaching the central plaza, Ash, Muu, Matteo, and Hannah found themselves in an area filled with armed individuals, all of them sporting the necklaces and tags of the Silver Moon. Some were in full plate, while others sported colorful cloths. One group was composed entirely of mannish women, while another squadron had two macho men with thick beards, naked from waist up. Off in a shadowy, southern corner, one particular individual slit the throat of a cute, white rabbit before smearing the fresh blood under his eyes. That man caught Ash’s eyes for a moment, held her dark gaze with a petrifying thrill, and then broke off, discarding the corpse and heading off to his comrades; individuals far more normal than himself. As the dead rabbit dropped, a wolf pup slipped out from a lovely huntress’s cloak and pounced on it, tearing flesh from bone with instinctual efficiency.

Despite the congregations, however, rarely did anyone enter the office itself. Instead, their attention was focused on the bounties pinned on the wall, as well as other job postings or requests. With that, it was relatively easy for the four to slip into the Recruiting Office, where stacks of paper and unlit candles remained the dominating objects within. Daylight lit up the dust motes that floated in the air, and the surly man who sat at the desk held a glowing cigar in one hand and a mug in the other, taking sips as he reclined.

The grandfather clock clanged seven times, and he blew out a circle of smoke.

“You’re back,” Mathers said drily, his clothing now of black robes hemmed with scarlet. “Make it quick."

It seemed like he wasn't a morning person either.
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Hidden 6 yrs ago → 6 yrs ago Post by Buzzkill
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“--So it seems the people who arrive here, like us, end up joining a guild for professional training in a particular field. The coinage we received from Silver Moon typically covers this tuition, if you would, but little else after that point as I understand it.”

Torn between his desire to share Etono’s information accurately (but also succinctly) Matteo ended up being more vague than he probably could have been in the interest of time and effort. It was much easier to make small conversation with anyone who would participate as they descended from the steps of the enormous church amidst the other huddled masses, finding their way back to the plaza where the fivesome had first parted ways. Now that they were here, however, the half-blind youth had to play catchup quickly. Alas, the life of a procrastinator. “I was told the open guilds presently are the priests, magicians, warriors…”

As if remembering Old Bear from the night before, Matteo mysteriously vanished and managed to position himself behind the tallest member of their group, the blonde girl whose name he still hadn’t learned. He continued walking as if nothing had happened. “Ah, but the magicians require a studious mind, if I recall. Thieves and rangers were options as well. And fiend knights,” he added thoughtfully as he followed the others into the office, the rush of tobacco-scented air and the dry tones of the recruiter assuring him they had returned to the right place.

“Right, hello again,” Matteo said faintly from the back, raising his hand, “Apologies for bothering you-- we were hoping you might have a guild directory to get us started. It also seems one of us who ‘arrived’ last night was accidentally left behind when the guards escorted us here.” He indicated Muu. Honestly, he had no idea whether that was accurate or not (or how the girl had been separated from them) but it sounded plausible, and if Matteo could shift the blame to someone else he certainly would. “Muu?” he prompted.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Skyswimsky
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"Magicians?" Muu murmured a single word to herself after Matteo's explanation as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. Muu wasn't sure why, but the thought alone seemed absurd. It felt wrong and absurd. Just how she instinctively knew running around naked or eating raw flesh (human) flesh wasn't 'right' either.

As the kind-of leaderless group somehow arrived inside the Recruiting Office, Muu making sure to avoid eye contact with those outside, her body instinctively went into an alert state. The man sitting there was dangerous. Muu could tell. Very dangerous. Dangerous enough for her to hide behind Hannah until Matteo took charge once again. Certainly a leader-type.

To her regret, however, the boy didn't take long to put attention on Muu herself, prompting the girl to force herself out of her hiding place and give Mathers instinctively a quick, respectful, bow. "I am Muu!" The brunette said rather firm and clear before standing straight again. "I'll be in your care." For just a moment, there was no trace of the shy and insecure girl, albeit not for long.

"I..." Taking a small step back, all was back to the usual. "I already met the Silver Light... too?" What was up with all the silver anway.
Hidden 6 yrs ago → 6 yrs ago Post by ERode
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Mathers clicked his tongue at Matteo’s question, obviously not feeling all that cooperative that morning. As two of the small group spoke up, their vague words and questions were accompanied by the recruiter’s loud coffee slurping. An eyebrow was raised when Muu mentioned the Silver Light, but the surly man said nothing for a good few seconds after the quiet girl finished speaking. Even with the crowds of adventurers outside, the inside was still deafeningly quiet, the only sound being Mathers’s occasional sips and the ticking of a grandfather clock.

“Tch.”

Finally, he moved, opening a cabinet and pulling out a sack of silver out. From a small chest on the table, the man extracted a necklace with a metal tag as well, tossing them both on the far end of the table for Muu to grab. Another sip was taken, the mug emptied, and he turned his resting bitch gaze onto the sole male of the party once more.

“‘Guild Directories’ are five silver a piece.”

After some small mental discussion, Matteo stepped up hesitantly, playing the role of the token nice guy surrounded by cute girls. Five silver were extracted from his small pouch and, before any regrets could be had, Mathers swept the gleaming coins into his palm, depositing them into an unseen compartment beneath the desk. With that exchange done, the recruiter presented a thin, leather-bound book, gilded with silver and written in a cursive script that made it difficult to read.

The so called ‘Guild Directory’ was in truth ‘Census of Active Guilds within Andeave: 6th Edition’, denser than expected, with pages so thin that it felt as if they may tear when one turned them. But the information that the census had was the real deal. Not only were the most common guilds detailed within the pages, from warrior to mage to ranger to fiend knight to priest to thief, but their differing registration fees, as well as the locations of their main headquarters were detailed. The publisher must have been feeling particularly artistic, for well-drawn portrayals of these individuals were drawn on the pages as well, strapping young warriors and demure but comely mages. Further along were more unique guilds. Muu and Hannah would recognize the Order of the Silver Light in the pages, a young Gavriel depicted there, but there were also unfamiliar names such as ‘The Cabal of the Golden Dawn’, ‘The Monster Gourmet School’, ‘The Temple of the Flowing Waters That Sculpt Mountains’, and ‘Roxy’s Combat Dancing Academy’.

Indeed, these unique, fringe guilds were what made up the majority of the census, and it was rather difficult to tell how many of these were even useful for a fledgling adventurer. Still, the group had the book now, and Mathers snorted.

“Now,” he said, “are you done here?”

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Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by OwO
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The arduous walk back to see the churlishly efficient pencil pusher was filled with important information. Guilds, what the gift of coin was for, and any other information that they could muster up. It was a rather uneventful trip that only made Ash feel more out of place than she already was. Uneventful except for that odd man, however. Out of view from the masses, a man had slit the throat of a rabbit and done an odd ritual. They held gazes, then the man faded away and left nothing but a corpse. A small pup slinked out of someone's cloak and greedily devoured what the odd man had left behind. Bizarre, Ash had thought. If the two people had known each other, then all that would be left behind would be blood that was washed away by the rain. If they weren't associates, that man just left a corpse right on the outskirts of the central plaza for someone else to deal with. What a dick.

They entered the office. Muu had introduced herself respectfully—a good first step to deal with the final boss of this place, Ash thought. Despite it being a godly hour, he was still the same person they had previously encountered. Ash wanted no part of interacting with him. Matteo acted as their provisional leader. Five silver for the information which Matteo paid. His purse had been nobly sacrificed to gain information for the group. Locations of the guilds and their prices. The one choice that leapt out for Ash was Hunter. After all, Hunter would allow for the safety of a bow. At least that's what she felt when she thought of the word. She had enough to be a hunter with a good amount of coin left over.

"Yes, I think we're done here," Ash had said, her gaze meeting Mathers', "thank you."

She didn't want to deal with Mathers. They could catch Muu up to speed after they left the office. Ash would even reimburse Matteo a silver. Debt was something that Ash didn't like having.
Hidden 6 yrs ago → 6 yrs ago Post by Buzzkill
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Matteo was used to being tested (he wasn’t sure why he was, but he was) and two tests now stood before him. Or perhaps “complications” were a better way of putting them. As tobacco smoke filled his lungs with each breath and his strained eyes were drawn to the “guild directory” on the counter, temptation reared its head. For a price- a hefty one, half of what they’d been given- here was a book with everything they needed to know to get them started in guild life. Here was a solution.

Here was a shortcut.

As Matteo was handing over the silver pieces without another word, his only hesitation was that now, with directory in hand, his efforts the night before to get information from Etono had been for nothing. A wasted gesture, and one he’d been physically punished for (as opposed to simply waiting at the office for the others to return.)

Someone else who’d just spent exactly half of their savings might have been distressed, but Matteo was already thinking. Five silver pieces wouldn’t win him admission into even the cheapest guild— the Thieves’ guild, he noticed, which made sense— but perhaps a verbal recommendation would. A recommendation that Etono, casual acquaintance though the other male might have been, had promised. You know, it doesn’t have to be a waste after all...

He had no proof that he’d be suited to a studious (or expensive) discipline, and it was clear from his fight with Old Bear that he was not suited for a warrior’s lifestyle. Surely any guild would be profitable, and what could earn more money than a literal Thief?

Collecting the directory with a succinct ”Ah, yes, thank you,” Matteo retreated and cleared his throat. ”Apologies for disturbing you, we’ll be going now.” With the coin from Ash he’d receive later on or another pity donation from another group member, perhaps he could talk his way into a deal with the guild of sky-blue robes.
Hidden 6 yrs ago → 6 yrs ago Post by changejar
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Upon leaving their shelter for the night, Hannah stuck close to Muu. The girl seemed like she needed it. Plus, Hannah was absolutely planning on using Muu as a distraction if anyone tried to talk to her. Fortunately, since the walk was so hard it seemed like the only one capable of talking without giving off awful wheezing was Muu.

Finding herself, once again, in the recruiting office, Hannah kept up her stoic image and let Muu and Matteo do all the talking. And paying, it seemed. Thankfully with her height Hannah had no problem reading over Matteo’s shoulder and skimming through the guild directory.

Even though she did not know a lot about herself, Hannah knew that anything too physical was just not up her alley. Judging by how winded she got just going up and down some stairs, the active guilds were pretty much off the table. Magic, though, now that was something that appealed to her deep down. It was hard to explain, but there was something about using magic that felt right. Considering that nothing felt particularly right since she arrived in this place, Hannah was inclined to follow that instinct. But what kind of magic? She didn’t really know what a mage would do. Or what a priest would do. Her heart said mage, because, well, who doesn’t want to play around with magic? Priest, though, caused Hannah to look around at the ragtag group she was apparently stuck with and having someone there to keep them alive to keep her alive was also rather appealing.

As they left the office Hannah cleared her throat and shot a glance at Muu (to make sure that if need be, Hannah could direct conversation at her) before speaking, “what does it say about magic? Or the Order of the Silver Light?” It wasn’t that Hannah really wanted to join the Silver Light, but she had already met them, so if everything worked out, that was less people for her to meet overall, which was an important thing to consider.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by OwO
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Following the relatively simple pointers within the guild directory, Ash followed the uphill path up north and west. Off in the distance, she could see the tall mountains that made the pathways take such a sharp angle, but instead of the bare, rocky cliff faces of the Church of First Light, Ash found herself looking at a verdant mountainside illuminated beautifully in morning light. Around her, classy brick-and-mortar buildings stood out, and the smell of both cooked meat and butchered meat left a strong iron taste in the roof of her mouth: this was doubtlessly the district for meat processing, and it made the thin soup she had at daybreak feel wholly insufficient.

Before Ash could think too deeply about the grumblings of her stomach, however, the short-haired girl arrived at the small, one-story building that made up the headquarters of the Ranger’s Guild. Unlike the other major guilds, the Rangers only had one permanent building to their name, with other outposts set up wherever the eccentric upper echelon desired. It was apparently from these temporary outposts that most of the training was done, but for the time being, the short-haired girl had an appointment to make. Pushing aside the cloth curtain that served as a rudimentary door for this rudimentary hut, Ash found herself in a dimly lit room with no windows. The smell of blood and firewood was strong here, and the balding man sitting on a box crate looked vaguely familiar, but other than that, nothing looked particularly threatening or impressive.

The firepit in the center of the room, from which a couple kebabs were being cooked at, did look comfy though. Perhaps she had gotten the wrong place completely, and had simply stumbled into someone’s mud-shanty?

“Would this be the hunter’s guild?” Ash asked the balding man. While he looked familiar, things that she didn’t remember ever seeing often did. Not to mention, balding wasn’t the most unique trait one could have. While the building was less than impressive, the term hunter evoked the word transience. It would make sense that their main quarters would be unimpressive. That’s what felt right, at least in Ash’s mind.

The man looked at her, before grunting in a vaguely affirmative manner.

“So would you be the person I see about joining?” Ash said, feeling more as though she was talking to herself. The man seemed to be less than a stellar conversationalist. But to each their own, Ash thought, perhaps he was more of a stoic. A balding stoic.

Another affirmative grunt. From a rucksack, the stoic pulled out a copper pan, placing it down on the dirt.

Befuddled by this action, Ash spent a moment staring at the pan. It took a brief moment to realize that stoic was asking for payment. That or he was just moving around a pan. More likely the former, Ash reached into her bloated coin bag and pulled out the registration fee—seven and some odd coins—and placed it down onto the pan. She kneeled and nodded to man. “I’ll be in your care.”

The bald man nodded once, but did not pick up the pan. Rising from his spot on the ground, he strode out from the mud hut. Hazel eyes scanned the horizon for a speck of something, before he pinched two fingers together and placed it in his mouth. A shrill whistle spiked upwards, and moments later, the cry of a hawk answered in return.

With a golden beak and magnificently long feathers, the hawk swooped down from the skies, perching on top of the man’s bare arm. The talons, razor sharp and wickedly curved, drew some blood as it sat there, but the man cared not. His free hand preened its neck gently, before moving to tie a green band on the predatory bird’s ankle. The man nodded to himself, before raising his hand upwards, sending the bird flying up towards the wooded mountain again.

A slight smile had overcome Ash. Not intentionally. Without even realizing it, feelings of nostalgia flooded Ash’s mind. Any known reason—anecdotal or logical—wasn’t needed. Even though the bird had clawed the man’s arm, no worry or sympathy came. Instead, memories of nostalgia flowed. But she didn’t remember. Like a blocked faucet, nothing came. In this moment, all Ash could do was wait for whoever that bird was meant to summon or whatever that message meant.

Soon, the hawk was naught but a speck against the verdant background, and the man stepped back into the mud shanty, sitting down crosslegged once more. Minutes passed, and Ash asked questions, only to receive more grunts. Hours passed, and Ash built teetering towers out of the small rocks that could be dug out from the dirt. Behind her, she could feel the warmth of the sun rise and then fall, the slivers of sunlight coming from the curtain behind her shifting from a bright white to a warm yellow to a dying orange. So much time had passed, and yet, she remained where she was.

Eventually, she was offered a waterskin, filled with lukewarm water that smelled of leather.

Eventually, she was offered a kebab, the meat succulent after the slow, careful roast.

Eventually, the curtain parted, a second individual stepping in from behind, heralding the glow of the setting sun. His thick boots made a squelching sound as he dipped his head, facial features temporarily hidden by shadow. But then the fire cast light upon him, and Ash, if she craned her neck, could see that the new arrival was a very handsome one indeed. For a moment, the word ‘cowboy’ bounced in her skull meaninglessly as she beheld his short-cropped beard and moustache, his beady blue eyes, the scar above his left eyebrow, his scruffy but fashionable blond hair. The parka he wore over his other clothes was muddied, but in a ruggedly cool way, and the fragrance of smoke and spice, blood and musk, emanated from his tanned skin.

This was certainly a man’s man, but the bald man sitting before her remained passive and silent.

“Yo, Master,” the newcomer said with a drawl, “This is the new puppy?”

Ash was, at first, caught off guard by the appearance of the cowboy. The impressive pebble tower—the culmination of an entire day’s practice—had toppled, scattering the small rocks back in the dirt. With her needs sated by the generosity (or perhaps obligation) of the master, she rose to greet the cowboy. She tried to rise, at least. With a distinct wobble and strenuous effort, Ash straightened off the ground. Lazing around for most of the daylight was a poor idea, but it was a choice that she would have to live with. Thankfully, slight changes in her sitting positioned allowed for her legs to at least function.

“Yes, I’m here to join,” Ash said with a bow. She was ready to topple just like her stone tower.

“Cool, cool,” the man nodded, “Paid the fee, right?”

“Yes. I left it with,” she paused to think about her words, “the master. On the copper pan on the ground.”

“Awesome!” He clapped her on the back, grinning. “Name’s Rahere. I’ll be serving as your teacher for the next seven days, so let’s get along, ye?”

“Let’s get along...” Ash paused for a moment. Her disdain for that phrase was apparent for a brief moment as her face formed a miserable look. The reason why was hidden, but a feeling that crept out from the bottom of her heart made her glad to not remember. As quickly as her pause came, she visibly shook away the wretched expression. “I’m Ash, Rahere, and I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. I’ll be in your care for the coming week,” Ash’s lips pursed for a brief moment, “Where would we start?”

“Hm, well, it is getting pretty late,” Rahere murmured, peaking outside, “Guess we’ll just do a nice little jog to my place then, Ash. Need to warm up?”

“A jog,” Ash quietly lamented and, without so much as a word more, she lifted and stretched her legs in a way that could only be described as the exact opposite of elegant. It wouldn’t be too hard, she thought, she could carry Matteo to the church, she can do a little jogging. Even if her legs were weary from doing nothing all day, she could still easily do a small outing. At least, that’s what she believed. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

“Awesome!” The handsome ranger slapped her on the back, before setting off a light pace out towards the walls, the gates. “By the by, when it gets tough, just remember! No refunds!”
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It was late into the evening that Matteo finally manage to find the silver-haired Etono. Though the youth had visited Roselia’s earlier that day, it was immediately clear that almost all adventurers had vacated the town to do their monster-slaying work. After inquiring a twin-tailed waitress, Matteo was directed to come back at sundown to the tavern. It wasn’t too hard to waste away an entire day, but it wasn’t too pleasurable either, and when the great clocktower chimed nineteen times underneath the shine of the twin moons, the shortsighted youth finally found his quarry.

The interior of Roselia’s was cozier than other taverns, baskets of bright, hardy flowers hanging from the rafters while detailed timberwork made the ceiling look more spacious than it actually was. Waitresses ranged from young girls to mature women, while the bar was attended to by a mountain of a man dressed in a suit that looked one size too small. The adventurers here were of a more subdued sort; parties of five or six sipping quietly away at their mead as they dined. There were a few loudmouths here or there, but unlike the raucous folk outside, they were outliers for an otherwise relaxed after-work group.

It was at the corner of the bar counter that Matteo caught a glimpse of that familiar silver ponytail. In those tight-fitting blue robes, Etono cut a rather handsome figure as he sipped a beautifully encrusted silver goblet, alone at the moment.

But clearly not for long, if the eyes of other women within the room were indicative of anything.

To Roselia’s Matteo was directed, and (being a dutiful boy who did what he was told by thieves and pigtailed waitresses) to Roselia’s he went. It was a pleasant place, he thought as he approached the figure at the corner of the bar, blurry silhouette like a patch of blue sky left over after sunset. The thief’s features sharpened as Matteo drew near and he cleared his throat in greeting.

“Ah—hello, nice to see you again.” His tone was pleasant as he stood politely to the side. “It’s Matteo, we met last night. Do you have a moment?”

“Oh, Matt,” Etono turned, friendly smile and a half-raised mug, “How’s it going? Got into the business yet?” Then, there was a blink. “Lost your glasses?”

Matteo raised his hand automatically as if to adjust them, self-conscious, and stopped just short of poking himself between the eyes. “Ah, no—they broke. Got into a late-night scuffle after we parted,” he admitted. He seemed more thoughtful than sheepish as he took an empty seat beside the ponytailed rogue. “And not yet. I was hoping you could help me with that, actually—you say the Thieves’ Guild is still recruiting?”

“Haha, well, that’s how it is when most of the population are the adventurous type,” Etono said, waving down the barkeep to fill a mug for the curly haired foreigner. “Thieves’ Guild is always recruiting. Though I suppose it’s closer to always ‘accepting’ rather than actively searching, yeah?”

As he spoke, the suited beefcake strode over, sliding down a dark, wooden mug containing a pale yellow beverage, bubbling softly as it sat before Matteo.

He hadn’t been going to order anything—he didn’t have the funds to afford such leisure—but as the drink was served it occurred to Matteo he was extremely thirsty. Hours of waiting for this opportunity had made him tense, and at the end of the day, Etono’s gesture was much appreciated. “Thank you,” he said and decided to make the mug his first priority before he turned back to the other man. “I’d like to join, if that’s acceptable, but I’m a silver short of the guild fee. What do you recommend I do?”

“A silver short? Geez, what happened, you got robbed as well?”

Matteo chuckled. “That would be ironic, wouldn’t it?” Rather than admitting he’d probably been scalped by the Silver Moon recruiter into spending half his money on a tourist pamphlet, he took another drink and let the liquid settle in his stomach before continuing. “I don’t suppose I could take out a guild loan…” He sighed.

Etono shook his head, chastising Matteo. “Gotta be careful with your money, kid. It’s not too much for me now, but back when I was starting out, we could hardly scrap together enough money to pay for rent. Playing with single digit coppers is hella hard. Think it took, what, a good three weeks before we could make more than a silver each a day?”

The word ‘we’ was oddly reassuring, for it reinforced the assumption Matteo had made until now: save for their individual guild fees, the group of outsiders was a team. At least for now, they’d have to work together—pool cash, split rent. What that meant was that, assuming he contributed in some way and that everyone else did their part, Matteo could coast.

“Of course, I’m starting to realize that now. You’re right,” he said, sipping his summery drink and wondering what kind of berry that was he could taste. “I suppose I’ll have to start learning quickly.” For it not having been 24 hours since he’d arrived, the youth already been enormously reckless.

“Mhmm,” Etono nodded, before tapping a finger on Matteo’s drink. A silvery object splashed into the clear liquid, and the blue-robed thief eased back. “That’ll be another future favor then, Matteo. Here’s to hoping you can make a silver a day by three weeks too, eh?”

His brows raised in surprise as he stared down at the gleaming shape, which drifted for a moment before settling at the bottom of his glass. “Are you sure? Thank you.” Of course, the other male had just said one silver was no big deal to him now—but the gift was sudden, and unexpected. “I—well, yes. I’ll certainly owe you that favor. I’ll get started at the guild right away.” What he could possibly offer was beyond him, but perhaps in three weeks… well, who knew?

Matteo lifted his mug to toast that possibility and sipped carefully, conscious of the prize at the bottom. Once he’d finished, he thanked Etono again and left the ponytailed thief to the hungry eyes of his female fans.

~~~

With just enough silver to pay off the humble registration fee, Matteo strode off to the unassuming building that was described in the guild census. Slipping southwards into the more seedy parts of Andeave, the curly haired boy did his best to avoid the baser temptations of the raucous southwestern quarters, from the rattling of dice and the shuffling of cards in the gambling dens to the many barely dressed ladies who occasionally cooed in the direction of the cute new face around town.

Thankfully, no mobsters caught him and he didn’t encounter Old Bear at all, and the shortsighted youth stood before an unmarked building. The address and the directions looked about right, but it still seemed more like someone’s house than the headquarters of the Thieves’ Guild. But perhaps that’s the intention? A wooden knocked laid against the door. It was simply a matter of striking it.

Assuming this wasn’t a test with some kind of trick answer, Matteo hesitated for only a moment, squinting around the doorframe to make sure he hadn’t missed some hidden instructions, before knocking. He stood on the step, Silver Moon tags arranged to be plainly visible on top of his foreign (and slightly bloodstained) shirt.

A raspy, unidentifiable voice sounded from behind the door. “What’s inside the turtle’s shell?”

Matteo squinted. “A turtle?” he guessed aloud. He probably should have studied the guild directory a little harder. “I’m sorry, is this a riddle or a passcode?” If it was an intellectual challenge he might have a chance, but trying to land on some predefined entry phrase was going to be near impossible.

There was silence, and then, a small compartment extended outwards beneath the knocker, like a cabinet without any grips.

Peering into the little compartment (empty) Matteo sighed. It seemed something was expected of him. A bribe, or the registration fee? He didn’t have silver to spare for the former, and Etono had told him to be careful. Without a face to talk to, he could only address the closed door, feeling a little foolish. “Ah--am I meant to put the seven silver in there?”

“Yes.”

A little startled at having actually received an answer, Matteo raised his brows, hesitated, and then deposited the seven silver coins inside the little drawer. “There you go,” he said, making a feeble attempt to push the compartment back in.

It snapped shut instantly and the door creaked open moments afterwards, leading into an entrance way as pitch black as spent coals.

With little other choice, Matteo stepped forward into the ominously dark entrance.

The moment Matteo entered, a heavy kick swept his legs, before a sack was tossed over his head. Another set of hands restrained his arms as he slammed into the wooden floorboards, before the bite of rope made itself known over his wrists. Without being given time to breathe, the thin youth was promptly lifted off the ground and carried a distance, his stomach banging painfully against the sharp shoulder of whoever lifted him, before he was tossed into another room, bouncing once against the floor and sliding into a wall. The sounds of a door slamming shut and a latching locking it down was heard clearly through the sack, before the neighing of two horses resounded clearly.

Within moments, Matteo was bouncing up and down within a carriage, speeding over unknown streets to somewhere.

Now, Matteo wasn’t sure what to think about all this. Alarming as it was to be suddenly ambushed, roughed up, and subsequently kidnapped, he supposed he had asked for it. Paid for it, even. So in some ways he was already a willing accomplice in his own abduction, and that fact behooved him not to worry too much about it. He tried to accept that this was just some form of hazing, some introductory ritual that all Thieves’ Guild members had to endure before they became proper members.

He believed this because it was a hope that was easier than the second possibility: that things had gone horribly wrong, some misunderstanding had occurred, and that he was headed for a very bad end where a defenseless Matteo turned out dead at worst, lost and penniless at best. There was no proof this was the case.

He lay still where he’d been thrown in the bumping carriage, arms still twisted painfully behind him, heart hammering in his chest. He was already regretting this.

After an indeterminate amount of time bouncing along uncomfortably on the unknown road, he rolled over and managed to get himself to a kneeling position, smacking his face in the process. He was briefly grateful his glasses were already broken before he began unsteadily searching for something else in the darkness; a window or something else besides his own aching body in the back of the vehicle.

What he actually found was a nail, which stabbed him enough to pierce the skin (much to Matteo’s displeasure). Once the muffled cursing from inside the sack was over, he felt gingerly for the sharp piece of metal and tried to hook the ropes binding his wrists around it. If he could cut through his bonds, he could free up his hands and take this damned hood off his head.

He’d underestimated how damn sharp that nail was, and how rough the ride in the carriage would be. Trying to do anything with finesse (like saw through ropes with a moving nail) turned out to be quite the punishing endeavor. Fifteen minutes or so later, a Matteo with sticky, throbbing wrists covered in accidental puncture-wounds (still bound) had to retreat. He collapsed again in the other corner, wondering how much more he could bear being stabbed just to probably get tied up and blindfolded all over again once they got where they were going.

Time passed as Matteo’s wounds throbbed until finally, after an eternity of suffering, the rocking of the wagon stopped. Outside, he could hear murmurs, before the latch was turned and the door was opened up.

“Phew,” a woman said, “Sounds ‘bout right from the starting bit, huh, Bat?”

The raspy voice replied indifferently, “Good ideas, but no conviction.”

“Wouldn’t call this little thing an idea anyways, but hey, at least he tried, right?”

“You want him then? He’s all yours, Seaweed.”

“Thank you, Batty~ <3” A wet kiss sounded, followed by a displeased grunt. “Now, let’s take a look at ‘im…”

With that, the sack was yanked off Matteo’s head, the bright lit of a dozen burning torches causing him to twitch momentarily. As his blurry sight adjusted, however, he could just barely catch the trailing of a dark cloak as it drifted out of a hole in the wall. The bright smile of a comely young woman drew his attention away easily enough, however, her face leaning in to get a better look at him. With full lips, vividly red eyes, and shoulder length brown hair cut into blunt bangs, she looked every part the sort of ‘modern day woman’ that seemed at odds with this fantastical setting of monsters and thieves.

“Hey there, boy,” she winked, “How you feeling?”

Matteo struggled to find his tongue and came up with “Hello.” His mouth felt dry. His wrists stung. “Well. Could be… better…” He felt like his life hadn’t prepared him for normal conversation after such a painful and semi-traumatic event. The youth took a deep breath, wincing. “It’s a relief to see who I’m talking to, at least. My name’s Matteo.”

“Seaweed,” she replied, holding out a hand before giggling when she realized he was still tied up. “Sorry, sorry, gimme a bit.” With that, she leaned over, draping her arms over his shoulders as she pressed up against him. For a moment, Matteo was able to feel an extraordinary warmth and softness, before just as quickly, the woman slipped back, holding the bloodied, mangled length of thin rope in her hands.

“Bit better now, yeah?”

Matteo let out his breath, having bit back a cry on reflex when the rope was removed. Seaweed was astonishingly quick, however. He gazed at the twine in surprise before pulling his hands forward, wincing again at the sight of the messy punctures. “How did you do that? And yes, much better, thank you.” She hadn’t even used a knife.

Feeling a little lightheaded (whether at the sight of the blood or merely from the brief body contact with the young woman) Matteo wiped a shaking hand on the hem of his shirt before accepting the handshake from before. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Mhmm! Surprised you didn’t cry during the whole thing. Very promising, really. Anyways, hope you told your buddies you’d be gone for a week, cause once we start, we’re not gonna get back to town till it’s over!”

...Why would he tell anyone anything like that? Matteo held back a sigh, thinking again that he should have looked over the guild directory more carefully. Oh well. He’d let the blonde girl or Muu borrow it, so they could probably look up the information if they really got concerned. He suspected they’d be busy with their own guild training though. “Thank you, I suppose. And that’s fine, I appreciate you letting me know.”

“Cool cool,” she nodded, head bobbing up and down energetically, “Let’s get you patched up and started then. Welcome to the Thieves’ Guild and all that jazz, Matteo. I know we’ll have a great time together!”

With an energetic welcome after a harrowing carriage ride, his guild training began. What did it actually mean to become a Thief?

He supposed he’d find out.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by changejar
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With destructive impulses in mind, Hannah didn’t have to walk very far at all to get to the Mage’s Guild. It was in the center of Andeave, after all, just like the Silver Moon Recruiting Office. Unlike that simple and rustic office, however, the Mage’s Guild was a grand affair, one of the taller, more architecturally impressive buildings around, crafted from beautifully marbled stone with a grand doorway that had ‘The Imperial Academy of Practical Wizardry’ embossed in gold above it. It was opulent to the point of being ostentatious, and the amount of individuals, young and old, made it clear that this wasn’t a place Silver Moon recruits only. Some looked to be children, despite their voluminous robes and their obvious air of disdain. Others actually were children, being dragged by their parents to study whatever served as ‘high education’ in Andeave.

The insides were just as transcendent, tiled floors polished to mirror-like perfection while great pillars supportered painted and domed ceilings. Massive staircases lead to ever-higher rooms, while smaller ones spiralled upwards towards the grand towers. Despite the grand dimensions, however, it slowly became apparent that the guild building was ‘roomy’ at best and ‘empty’ at worst. Plenty of people filed about from one place to another, and yet, even then, the spaces inbetween seemed oddly open. A curiousity. Maybe they spent all their money on the frame of the building, and neglected to purchase the fancy smancy furniture that would complete the look?

In the center of the room, a buxom woman with a monocle and odd, light blue hair sat surrounded by a mahogany counter. A clear bastion of direction and knowledge amidst the coming and going guild members, she occasionally answered questions and offered directions, all while maintaining a slightly dangerous smile on her face.

This woman was definitely a sadist.

Hannah eyed her surrounding with something akin to distaste. She was a big fan of people not being near her, but the whole place just felt a little pretentious. Who needed that much space? Not them, apparently. But she had more important things to do than to judge the décor. Hannah spotted the woman that seemed to be in charge. Or at least could point her in the right direction.

She approached and stood in front of the woman for several moments before realizing that no one else was there to talk for her. How unfortunate. Hannah scowled and cleared her throat, “Hi. I’m here to be a mage.” Hannah felt quite uncomfortable without anyone else to do the socializing. She briefly wished Muu or Matteo was around to navigate the complexities of social interaction, then reminded herself that that was a ridiculous idea. Hannah didn’t need anyone around.

For a moment, Hannah could have sworn that she saw a flash of disappointment in the eyes of the receptionist lady’s as it flickered first to her unwashed form, then to her foreign clothes, and finally towards the tag that hung from her neck. But that disappointment was quickly replaced by a professional indifference as she smiled at Hannah.

“You have enough to pay the ten silver fee for registration in our Combat Mage Crash Course then, young lady?”

Oh good, no small talk. Money exchanges Hannah could handle. Hannah handed over the bag of silver that she received. The guy better not have lied about how much he was giving them.

The woman gingerly loosed the dirty bag, pinching it between her index and her thumb as if it was a piece of garbage, before upending its contents. Offering the empty coin purse to Hannah, she counted the coins and nodded.

“All in order. Name?”

Hannah took back the bag and shoved it into her pocket with little care. It was empty and of no use to her anymore.

Ugh. Giving her name. And here she had worked so hard to keep that information to herself. Hannah was tempted to leave right then, find another guild that wasn’t quite to nosey. But magic. So she sucked it up. Besides, none of the others were around. “Hannah.”

The woman nodded, unravelling a scroll before scanning downwards. After a while, she pulled out a quill from an ink pot and scribbled down a name. “Room 402, on the West Wing. There’s no lock, but you don’t own anything anyways. Orientation’s in...forty seven minutes, starting at the lobby. Questions?”

“No.” and with that single word, Hannah turned to leave. While she didn’t really need to go to her room to drop anything off (the woman was right, all she owned was a now empty coin purse), she was interested in seeing exactly where it was. She wandered off towards the West Wing, keeping an eye out for door numbers and just trying to keep track of the time in her head.

Upon finding room 402, Hannah didn’t even bother going in. She knew where it was, that was good enough for her. Plus, she really did not want to be late, so she traveled back to the main lobby. She would never admit it, but Hannah was excited to get her learn on.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Skyswimsky
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"U-Uhm... thank you." Muu murmured silently towards Matteo as he offered himself up to buy the Guild Primer. Sadly, Muu wasn't all too sure how much 10 silver was truly worth but would certainly repay him! "Can I..." Urgh, she was the worst, wasn't she? First he paid for it and now. Looking down in defeat, Matteo was thankfully enough of a gentleman to go out of his way and share the primer for a moment.

There was a lot of information there but ultimately, what was Muu even supposed to do? So far, the girl just tagged along. But why? It was, once again, Matteo who continued the exposition. More than her nameless new best friend had done anyway. The brunette was supposed to be a kind-of-soldier-person. Come again? It came at a shock but eventually Muu settled down. Despite her sheepish behaviour she was very well aware of her healthy body.

Thus, it came down to a bunch of options, mainly about big weapon fanatics or something like a 'Deus Vult' group, that Muu decided to check all out...

...

After various misadventures in perusing the variety of smaller, more obscure guilds and factions within the guild census that Matteo had bought, as well as her encounters with many, many half-naked, dark-skinned, sweaty macho men, Muu finally found herself on the southern side of Andeave, where the buildings became taller and more menacing. Rickety spires of wood speared the blue sky above, while the people who strode through the cobblestone streets wore thick hoods and muttered foreign tongues that sent shivers down her back. Graffiti, splashed in dark red ‘paint’, colored the damp, sodden walls of narrow alleyways, while the blood-scent and incense-smoke lingered beneath the baser stench of the sea. It was a part of town seeped with supernatural danger, and Muu could only imagine how frightening it’d be when the sun truly fell, and all those candles were lit up.

After some wandering and nervous questions, however, the young girl found herself before a three-story building in a dense favela, many other narrow buildings with steep roofs crammed in the same place. Down below, the derelict prophets and worshippers of foul non-gods sat, rattling their bone-dice and smoking their mind-blinders, but up above, Muu could see the scarlet-and-gold banner of the Bladedancer’s Academy, just as ostentatious as the name itself suggested. Men and women dressed in leather and belts bounded from rooftop to rooftop, some of them smoother than others. There were more who traipsed on tightropes, their blades sparking as they dueled each other, and still more who were content with balancing on the very edge of a roof on a single toe. Though dressed in incredibly dark attire, so dark that it shone blackly in the sun, the scarlet scarves they all wore was the splash of color that seemed to serve as their uniform.

At a distance, they were incredibly cool.

But down below, the people looked up at those flamboyant peacocks with nothing but disdain and curses. Still, if this had Muu’s interest, she simply had to enter the door and climb up the stairs...or maybe shout from down below to grab the attention of one of the rooftoppers?

Unapproachable. They seemed unapproachable. Despite the glaring annoyances on the ground, without a care in the world, the sword dancers went on their business with the Scarlet Color of Justice.

For a good amount of time, Muu simply stood there. Just like the others, gazing up and watching their play. None of this was what she wanted, but ultimately, she had to do with the cards she had been dealt with.

”Alright Muu.” The brunette whispered in a barely convincing voice to herself. ”You can do this! Go Muu Go!” With a tiny spark of determination in her eyes, Muu convinced herself that all would be well. Even with the cursing and creepy cultists that would surely target her once— ”GO MUU GO!” The girl yelled rather loudly before entering the headquarters of the ‘edgy acrobat sword people group’ and going up the stairs to find…?

-

More stairs. A lot more stairs. Though it wasn’t anything worse than the long line of stairs that lead up to the Church of the First Light, the number of stairsteps spiraling upwards still took its toll on Muu. Along the way, she encountered all sorts of sketchy folk, some who looked as if they wanted to drag her into a dark room and skin her alive and some who looked as if they wanted to drag her into a dark room and sacrifice her to a tentacle god, but Muu was too fast and too shy to be dragged into their heinous apartments. No, despite the obstacles along the way, she rose and rose and rose until she reached a ladder that led to the rooftops. More climbing ensued and finally, the young girl broke out into the open sky and the clay-and-wood rooftops.

But there was no one there. Indeed, it appeared that as she climbed, the rest of the ‘Bladedancers’ had bounded away from the central roof. Most of them were now training farther off, a formidable death drop between the roofs that they trained on and the roof that she stood upon.

Still, if she were to squeeze her eyes and use all her might, even that distance would be naught but a trifling hop to clear. The only question was...would she do it?

For most people, this was a situation to be scared. Jumping from one roof to the next and the result that would happen if one were to fall. Yet, Muu felt at ease. Up here, away from all these scary people, the brunette could sigh with relief. This was way less uncomfortable than the crowded streets. Nonetheless, after another small break and mentally convincing herself to press on the girl dared to jump. Closer, and closer to the training edgelords.

The jump was indeed easy, her feet slapping cleanly against the roof. Though it was slanted, her shoes still gripped easily enough against the side, and Muu came to a safe, if not skilled, stop. As she did, one of the Bladedancers, a lithe man with his entire head wrapped in the scarlet scarf turned around, amusement faintly lighting in his eyes.

“Morning.”

Before Muu was even able to regain her composure, one of these people already greeted her! "G-Good Morning!" The girl stammered forth before adding, with a bow. "I am Muu and I'd like to apply to the Bladedancers Academy... please!?"[/b] Despite her voice turning nearly into a whisper towards the end her voice was clear this time.

“30 silver.”

Muu nodded before pulling out her coinsack and counting. Now, for the first time, she realized she didn't have enough, letting her head hang. "Urgh..."

Realizing that he was, apparently, still waiting for her to pay Muu continued in a silent voice. "I... all I have are 10 Silver."

“That’s not 30,” he stated.

Duh. He didn't make it any easier for her. A man of few words? "I-I know... but...p-please?"

“Why?”

Why? Did he just ask 'why'? Oh god. Muu had to talk. Use a lot of words, didn't she? With each passing second the girl felt more and more uncomfortable. Why couldn't that girl be with her. "B-Because it's..." She looked even more bullied now. "...the only place I have left?" The whole magic thing was weird and the muscle people weren't much better. "And the uniforms(?) look kinda cool..." Muu also mumbled.

“Hm...and what will you do to make up for the 20 silver left?”

Progress! At least he didn't kick her out asap. Go Muu Go! With her face slightly lighting up, Muu could once again look forward. "I, uh... work extra hard to make it up...?"

“Working hard benefits the worker.”

"B-But also the employer!?" Muu actually dared in a rather firm voice. Although immediately looked panicked, looking down once again as she dropped her shoulders. "Although it's very disrespectful to not give it your best in the first place..." She whispered to herself.

“But we’re not employing you.” He replied, with a slight shrug.

"..." This was getting nowhere, was it? Muu stood silent for a minute. He did, too. Two minutes. Nothing changed. Three minutes. Super awkward. Just how could he!? "W-What more do you want from me!?" She asked with a weird mixture of annoyance and shyness as her body stood firm once more. "I pay the 20 silver later, ...isn't that enough!?" The last part of her sentence drifted off into a quieter voice again.

He blinked, amusement crystal clear in his blue eyes now. “Yes. That’s enough. Every week that passes, I will collect at least one silver coin from you. Every month that passes, your debt will increase by one-tenth of whatever remains unpaid. Do you agree with that?”

"Uh..." Wow, did he just? Urgh. "F-Fine..." Muu nodded. If only she was more headstrong to defend herself against such treatment!

“Then bleed for it.” With that, a small penknife twirled in his right hand, and he tossed it over towards Muu, unconcerned if it ended up stabbing her.

The Bully used confusion! It was very effective.
Despite catching the knife with ease, Muu looked at him rather confused. Bleed for it?

He snorted. “Cut your palm.”

Was that really necessary!? But who was little Muu to object? Without any complain, the girl started to cut herself. No wonder some people thought of them as Edgelords.

The man nodded, before taking the knife and cutting open his own palm. Once the blood began to flow freely, he reached out, offering, no, demanding a handshake.

Ewh! Certain alarm bells went off in Muu's hand, albeit just for a moment. After all, she was Muu and not a headstrong genki girl that would tell him a thing or two about aids. In fact, Muu felt a weird sense of respect towards this despicable asshole, and thus shook his hand.

It was a shake, but it was also a strong grip, as he held her open wound against his own, feeling the blood flow between the two. Closing his eyes, the man muttered a few words in a foreign tongue, before releasing. As Muu looked at her own palm, she could see a crimson symbol etching itself into her skin now, three thorny branches striking out from the center of her self-inflicted wound.

The man nodded. “For the duration of this week, refer to me as Master. Right now, you are nothing but crude ore, but by the end of this, you shall become a blade capable of splitting the clouds.”

Then, that amusement sparked in his eyes once more. “Only if you work extra hard though.”

A certain feeling of similarity.
A slight hunch of regret.
A fleeting memory of obedience.

Checking out her tatoo for just a moment, Muu gave 'Master' a short, curteous, bow. "Yes, Master!" Splitting the clouds? Wasn't that kind of 'a lot' for just a week?
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by ERode
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Chapter 1: Leaving The Nest


It was the ninth day since the four of them had arrived at this alien landscape. It had been seven days since the four of them had seen each other, seven days since the beginning of their training. And now, bearing second-hand arms meant to start off their career as monster hunters, invaders of the continent of Altera on the behest of the Jeulian Empire, here they stood once more. Some had bled. Others had excelled. Still more struggled. But it was the morning of the ninth day, in that central plaza that so many other members of the Silver Moon ‘Army’ convened before setting off, and though the others hadn’t changed, they have.

It was the ninth day. Some were in debt. Others were penniless.

It was time to leave the nest, to see if they would fly or fall.
@Skyswimsky@changejar@Buzzkill@Burger
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by OwO
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With a second-hand bow and quiver on her back and an old but seldom used machete at her hip, Ash had arrived at the plaza. She wasn't even sure that she would ever see the others again. Maybe they found others, maybe they quit, maybe they trained for different amounts of time. They didn't keep in touch during the training. They didn't even make an agreement to meet up once they were all done. All Ash could do was wait for the others. In her lonesome wait, she began to reminisce about her week of training.


Training to become a ranger was, for lack of a better word, vague. Throughout the week, she learned about a variety of subjects. Outdoorsmanship and combat were the two main focuses, combat more so. Throughout the days, she learned how to fire a bow, how to fight with a machete, knowledge of common plants and animals, shelter building, firestarting, cooking, butchering, and anything a hunter would need to know. There was so much to learn in only a week, so Ash only received a basic understanding of these concepts. Rahere had also taught Ash an invaluable skill, Predator's Gaze, to enter a trance that allowed her to find and follow tracks with greater ease.

The first two days were hell. For half of each day, she ran. Uphill, thick vegetation, and the looming threat of predators forced her to push herself. The first day was standard; she jogged into the night, came back, and managed to sleep while her legs ached and blisters formed. Compared to the second day, the first day was baby's first jog. She had to do the exact same run, but with an extra 80 pounds on her back. She managed to complete the run, however.

The third day was more about learning experiences. The runs were toned back to make room for more learning. She learned how to butcher a deer. It was a gross and bizarre experience, but Ash managed to follow the lesson plans. While she had taken it slow, she still managed to overcome the bizarre sickness of slicing through the carcass. She didn't vomit once. She did gag and heave constantly, though.

The fourth day was a day of retribution. Punished for her previous days cardio training, the blisters on her feet popped with pus and blood. Mosquito bites punished her for resting outside. Everything hurt and was bloody. Rahere, her mentor, taught her some natural remedies. Nothing complicated, but enough to soothe the bloody, disgusting mess that was Ash's feet.

The fifth day was a massive boost of confidence for Ash. Being a hunter finally clicked. She understood how to move through the woods and her bow training shifted from the dreaded wooden dummy to the legendary non-threatening birds and deers. The discomfort of living off the land subsided, making her more used to the outdoors than she ever was. She even managed to find a cool spring to relax in, take a cold bath, and wash her clothes.

The sixth day was humbling. While traveling up the mountainside alone, Ash had stumbled across a bear. The two noticed each other at the same time, and Ash ran away. The bear ran after her. Despite having 200 pounds on Ash, the bear was almost twice as fast. It mauled Ash. As she fell into unconsciousness, a silver wolf leaped from the woods and tore at the bear's nose.

The seventh day was bizarre. She woke up in the church with anemia. Rahere was with her and told her about the their patron god. Kur-Inuus, the wolf that watched over life and death. It was tradition to leave an extra meal whenever one was out in the woods at night. He also went over some more general knowledge without enthusiasm. Throughout this day, Ash couldn't help but feel terrible. Not at her anemia, but almost dying from something as simple as a bear. If they were to hunt monsters, what chance did Ash have if she couldn't even escape from a bear?


Her recap was cut short when she finally saw her party. Ash joined them and thought about making some conversation. She didn't, however. There was a time and place to have a conversation with others. But now was the time to finally leave the safety of the city. Plus, Ash's nerves were pretty much fried ever since she was mauled by a bear.
Hidden 6 yrs ago → 6 yrs ago Post by Buzzkill
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The murmur of voices, the raucous laughter, the clatter of boots on cobblestones and whetstones on weapons. It was morning in Andeave, and it was as if nothing had changed. The sight which awaited Matteo at the plaza near the Silver Moon office was no different than what had greeted them seven days ago when they’d first descended from the Order walls. The adventurers, the wild men, the warriors-- there were not too many when Matteo first arrived, slipping cautiously around a building and scanning the other early risers for a familiar face. Ash. Aoi. Muu. Maybe even Old Bear.

It’s strange to be out in the open again, the curly-haired boy thought, unconsciously hugging tight to the wall as he stopped to take his bearings. It had been a vague hope that he might meet the others here, that they would all be unconsciously drawn back to the place they’d first gathered. Without anything so fortuitous, Matteo would have to regroup. Or should I be calling myself ‘Mop’ now? he thought, recalling his good-humored acceptance of the Thief name on the last day of his training. It was no more glamorous than Bat, or Seaweed, or any of the other shifty monikers he’d come to know.

'Seaweed' had been his mentor. Thinking about the last seven days spent with the merciless Thief, Matteo’s opinion was still wildly polarized. It has to be some kind of Stockholm Syndrome, he thought wryly--she’d simultaneously been his worst enemy and his only friend down in the tunnels; the only person who treated him with kindness and the one who caused him the most pain. He felt his fists tighten reflexively-- the systematic daily torture had been brutal, but necessary. Thieves had to work through pain and under pressure. They had to be agile. They had to be flexible.

With his eyesight like it was, Matteo couldn’t always react to a threat as fast as he needed to-- at least not until it was so close that it was too late. It was better to avoid trouble to begin with. That was why they’d taught him Cat Walk. More than stealing, more than poisons (one incident had left him vomiting for a full day) more than throwing knives and lethal close combat, Matteo had learned how to wiggle out of a bad situation. Whether that was escaping and hiding from Seaweed during their demented games of cat-and-mouse in the tunnels, or slipping his bindings in a tank of water, or popping his shoulders out of their sockets in order to squeeze through a space no human should ever fit through… Well, let’s just say if I ever get caught in a mob like what happened with Old Bear again, I’ll find a way out.

Resting in the shadow of the low wall, Matteo rocked back on his heels and sniffed the air longingly. His stomach growled. It was still too early for the marketplace to be selling roast meat or other street food-- even if they’d been open, Matteo had no money to spare. His diet of alternately cold and warm porridge over the last week would just have to be enough to keep him going for now. I wonder if any of the others have funds left over, he thought. The Thief’s Guild had the lowest entrance fee of all the guilds (after his punishing experience, Matteo now knew why) but it had still taken everything the dark-haired trainee had.

Eventually, unlikely as it was, fortuitous circumstances united them once again. Each acquaintance he’d made before his guild training eventually showed up, drawn to the increasingly crowded plaza in search of familiar faces. Matteo’s eyes were drawn to the ‘bounty’ board, little more than a rectangular blur in his vision, and made up his mind to ask about it once the last of them had gathered. “It’s good to see everyone again,” he said mildly, reflecting on the subtle differences in each of them since last time they’d met. Some had new weapons. Some had new injuries. Some had new lines on their face, or a new mark on their palm. Matteo let out his breath, giving a sheepish smile. “I hope everything went well.”
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Skyswimsky
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Headache. Regret. Nausea. Never again. Muu felt terrible. On her seventh day, they celebrated. On their seventh day, she became one of them. On her seventh day, Muu learned - no, experienced - she had barely any alcohol tolerance. And now, here she was. Suffering. At the very least, however, the youngest Member of the Blade Dancers had a cool scarlet scarf.

The past days had been horrible, yet fulfilling. In a sense, Muu felt at home - even if her Master had exploited her financially. The first day, the most basic of the basics. Walking on tight ropes and hanging off buildings with one hand. The second day, parkour. The third day, suicide. Jumping off a five story building and feathering her fall. Over. And. Over. Again. The fourth day, actual combat experience. The fifth day, Revelation. The sixth day, praise from her master. The seventh day, Regret.

And now, here she was. Not much around her had changed, yet, Muu changed. No longer did she simply see a crowded street full of townsfolk going their daily business. Instead, she was surrounded by a playground. The town itself was alive. Talking, whispering, beckoning her. But, for now, Muu had a mission. Hiding most of her face in the comfortable scarf, her sheathed long-sword dangling beside her hip, the girl greeted the rest of her companions. "H-Hello..." Her silent voice even more muffled through the scarf. Yup, still the same person.
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